CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A lot of people dread getting their yearly physical, but more doctors are agreeing you might not need one.
Checkups at the doctor are changing and it could be good news for folks who hate going to the clinic.
The Wall Street Journal reports that more health experts believe young and healthy people can probably afford to skip their annual physical. Some recent studies suggest physicals aren't actually doing much to improve our long-term health.
While physicals may not do much to help, a lot of doctors say people should still schedule an annual checkup. Instead of going through lots of physical exams, more doctors are asking their patients about habits like sleep and exercise.
Doctors say spending less time on physicals for young and healthy people will help ease the strain on primary care providers. But if you're over 40, doctors say it's still important to come in for a traditional physical. As we get older, our risk for several diseases increases, so it's important to get checked out often to catch them early.
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